Tobacco of the future

By Craig Andrus Bryan County Health Department

February 20, 2014

The year is 2014. Cars are running off of solar energy, you are able to lock your front door with a phone app and kids are smoking cigarettes! If I were to ask you 40 years ago which of the 3 you would most likely see happening on 2014 I would put my money on the latter being the more dominant choice. It is a known fact that people start smoking well before the restricted age of 18 years old. Once you turn 18 it isn’t uncommon for a person of that age to walk into a store and purchase cigarettes.

The year is 2014 and kids are still smoking but this time through electronic devises. That’s right I said electronic! The new tobacco craze is an electronic device that heats up nicotine for a smoker to inhale and lets off an odorless smoke. For most people E-cigarettes are a healthy alternative to cigarettes.

You hear of the odorless smoke, the litter less cigarette butts and how its tobacco free. E-cigarettes are fairly young and are still being researched through the department of health. We are aware that some risk factors of smoking e-cigarettes are just as common as smoking a traditional cigarette because of its prime ingredient nicotine. But did you know because e-cigarettes are tobacco less they do not have an age restriction on being purchased? That’s right I said no age restriction! “Kids” can literally go into a store and purchase the crowd targeting flavors of bubblegum, dream sickle and birthday cake.

The year is 2014. Cars are running off of solar energy, you are able to lock your front door with a phone app and kids are smoking E-cigarettes!